Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi is now asking fans for help after being hit with a $27 million lawsuit tied to a viral joke about The Lion King’s famous opening chant. According to multiple reports, Jonasi has launched a fundraiser after South African composer Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake sued him in federal court in Los Angeles earlier this month.

The lawsuit stems from Jonasi’s appearance on the One54 Africa podcast, where he corrected the way the chant was being sung and then translated the opening line, “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba,” as, “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my god.” The moment went viral online, but Lebo M argues the statement was not harmless comedy. In the complaint, he alleges Jonasi intentionally misrepresented the chant’s meaning and mocked its cultural significance.

Disney’s official translation of the phrase is, “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king,” while Lebo M’s legal team says the broader chant carries ceremonial and royal meaning rooted in South African tradition. The suit reportedly seeks more than $20 million in actual damages, plus another $7 million in punitive damages.

As the case picks up attention online, Jonasi has started raising money publicly, saying he does not have the resources to fight a case of this size on his own. Social posts circulating this week show the comedian promoting both a GoFundMe and merchandise as he tries to cover legal costs.

Disney has not publicly commented on the dispute. The case has already sparked wider debate online over whether Jonasi’s remarks were clearly comedic, or whether the viral clip crossed a line by reducing a culturally significant chant into a punchline.